5 Unique Things to Do With Your Dog In Seattle

Seattle is one of the most dog friendly cities in the U.S. You may have heard but there are actually more dogs than kids in Seattle.

It’s hard to go anywhere without seeing people driving with dogs in their cars, eating outside at restaurants with their dogs, or out walking with their dogs. Dog friendly hotels and specialty pet stores are everywhere.

A an internet search of Seattle will reveal many places to go and things to do with your dog. I know because I have been researching dog friendly activities and places in Seattle for a long time.

Eventually, I found the websites were all talking about the same things. I thought I would share 5 unique things you can do with your dog in Seattle for locals and travelers looking to do something a little different.

1) Ride a Bus with Your Dog to a Hiking Trail

Visiting Seattle and want to go hiking but don’t have a car? No problem. Well-behaved dogs are allowed to ride the King County Metro Buses. You and your pooch can board a bus in downtown Seattle and ride to several Seattle area trails.

If you are ready for a moderate climb, hike Little Mount Si for a view of the Snoqualmie Valley or travel farther North to visit the beautiful Wallace Falls. If you want an easier hike close to the City that includes urban forest, beach views (dogs are not allowed ON the beach but there is a short path that walks along it), and a lighthouse, head to Discovery Park. (Click one of the links to get bus directions).

The 22-foot high boots and 44-foot wide cowboy hat were once restrooms at a 1950’s gas station. During it’s heyday, the gas station was the biggest selling station in the state. Rumor has it that Elvis stopped there when he was in town for the 1962 World’s Fair. If that didn’t make them famous enough, the giant cowboy boots and hat also appeared in the opening credits of the movie National Lampoons Vacation. They have been restored and are currently located in Seattle’s Oxbow Park at 6430 Corson Ave S, Seattle, 98108.

3) Take Your Dog Paddleboarding or Kayaking

Both Green Lake Boat Rentals and Ballard Kayak Rentals allow you bring your dog along on your watery adventures. You can rent kayaks or paddleboards at either place. If you rent from Green Lake Boat Rentals, you will find yourself paddling a 259 freshwater lake surrounded by one of the most popular walking/jogging paths in the City of Seattle. Ballard Kayak Rentals is on Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, and they offer a 30-minute one-on-one lesson for newbie paddleboarders.

4) Browse the Ballard Farmer’s Market

A lot of farmers markets don’t allow dogs but the Ballard Farmer’s Market is dog friendly. Here you’ll find fruits and veggies straight from the garden, beautiful, inexpensive bouquets, and artisan products such as hand made soap, freezer jam, and jewelry. The farmers market is open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. year round.

5) Ride the S.L.U.T

This is something you do just to say you did it. In 2007, the City of Seattle launched a development plan to revitalize the South Lake Union neighborhood. During this revitalization, the South Lake Union Trolley was born. The trolley is part of the King County Metro transit System so, like the buses, well-behaved dogs are allowed on board. The 1.3 mile stretch that connects downtown Seattle to the South Lake Union neighborhood is short but it has a funny story.

Politicians were so proud of the new trolley that they failed to realize that the acronym for it spelled SLUT. Seattleites jumped on this, taking every opportunity to poke fun at the name, and some genius printed “Ride the S.L.U.T” t-shirts. Politicians, probably embarrassed, switched the name to “streetcar”. While, technically, it’s no longer the S.L.U.T many Seattlites still remember it as such and your friends from out of state won’t know any better when you tell them the funny story. I can’t vouch for the looks you will get when you proudly exclaim “my dog rode the S.L.U.T while we were in Seattle” though.

Seattle is a great City for dog lovers. If you are traveling here with your pooch I think you will be pleased. If you live here and own a dog, I encourage you to get out and explore your City.

“Long drive”…you are funny 🙂 We regularly drive to Bellingham which is only 1.5 hours. We just drove for two days to Jackson, Wyoming. I will be driving to Portland and back next week. I think it’s a mere hour from Seattle to Marysville. I guess it’s all relative though 🙂 If you don’t do much driving….

Very true; it’s all relative. For us, it would be a long drive, because our dogs aren’t used to being in the car for more than 15 minutes, because we stick to local areas with them. Driving a long distance with 4 large dogs in traffic to Seattle would be hard on all of us, but that’s just because we chose rural living – it’s more our speed. But it would be fun to try; I’m just not willing to risk the stress to our dogs 🙂

Seattle is definitely on my bucket list. I have always wanted to live there because I think the climate would be perfect for me. Their dog-friendliness makes it that much more desirable! Detroit needs to learn from them and so many other cities!

yep I live 34 miles north of Detroit. I lived in Cleveland, Ohio for 35 yrs before moving here in 2001. Tell your husband it isn’t quite like that. A lot of people left Michigan when the economy tanked but it is far from a scene from “The Day After” lol……..well…there are a number of zombies walking around!

LOL I want to ride the SLUT! We’ve been to The French Quarter in New Orleans where dogs could do everything BUT ride the trolley. I love the water and I keep hearing more and more about paddle boarding which would be sooo much fun! The closest I’ve ever gotten to Seattle is “Sleepless In Seattle” but maybe one day…

Great post! I daresay that Seattle has some stiff competition, though 😉 I’m writing a post about my old stomping grounds of Annapolis, MD, definitely one of the pet-friendliest cities in North America!! xo

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I Am Not Your Vet….

I am just a passionate pet parent that shares a lot of information on this blog. Some of it is researched facts; some of it is stuff I learned through the experience of owning and hiking with a Dachshund for 10 years; and some of it is just good ol' opinion. Please check with your veterinarian before your dog undertakes a new exercise routine, you introduce a new food, treat or supplement, or to confirm that anything I suggest here is a good fit for your dog.

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